The Woodford Reserve Distillery has been distilling on the same site for more than 235 years, making it the oldest Bourbon distillery in Kentucky. Now owned by Brown-Forman—one of America’s largest wine and spirits companies—it has been refitted and set to expand. Since their founding in 1780, the folks at Woodford have been influential in the development and codifying of Bourbon production. In short, they helped invent the spirit as we know and love it today!

To their credit, Brown-Forman are being very careful with this valuable brand. Specifically, to all appearances they are keeping all of the corporate “suits” out of the way and letting the Bourbon-loving employees at Woodford continue to do the Whiskey Voodoo that they do so well.

Smooth, pleasantly spiced, and bursting with flavor, Woodford Rye is a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey that is at least four years old and comes in at 53% Rye grain mash—a bit more than required by legal definition—and is bottled at 45.2% ABV (90.4 proof). The rest is 33% corn and 14% malt. The odd component percentages and ABV numbers are a good sign that they are focused on taste rather than the marketing department. Why 53%? Because that what it needs to be. Why malt at all instead of a cheaper grain? Well, you get the idea.

In all of the more than 200 years of their history, Bourbon is what they’ve made at Woodford, and they made it well. But this year, 2015, is special. Chris Morris, the Master Distiller at Woodford, has announced that their first batch of Rye Whiskey is fully mature and ready to serve. Not a “one off” or special issue, this is a new permanent addition to the Woodford lineup. It’s your chance to have a dram of the first bottling of a new spirit from one of the most storied and historic American distilleries. That’s pretty cool.

Woodford Rye Whiskey

(0.75l, 53.00%)

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Ratings & Reviews

Member Reviews and Ratings of Woodford Rye Whiskey

Terry,
Aug 9, 2017

Good but not oaky enough for me

David,
Apr 9, 2017

I was thinking of getting a bottle because it got decent ratings. I decided to try it first and I'm glad I did. Vanilla and spice on the nose. Quite a bit of ethanol as well. It was hot, with a pretty strong vanilla and spice flavor. The thing the turned me off was a... I don't know, rubber cement after taste. It finished pretty dry but that after taste lingered and I kind of had to force myself to finish the glass. It wasn't terrible, just not to my liking.

Derek,
Feb 24, 2017

This is my go-to bourbon. It's rich in spice and the finish is just right for my preference.

Bruce,
Feb 15, 2017

Good at first and then turns to excellent once the ice starts to melt. One of my new favorites.

Jarett,
Apr 19, 2016

It's a good whisky, but I was excited Woodford had released a rye and let down by the lack of rye punch.